Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (Series)

Star Wars has plenty of toy tie-ins, costumes, and video games aimed at kids, but its stories have rarely featured young protagonists—aside from Anakin in The Phantom Menace. Even when Clone Wars and The Bad Batch included children, they were often placed in heavier, more serious narratives. Skeleton Crew takes a different approach, delivering a more kid-friendly adventure in the spirit of The Goonies—a lighthearted journey filled with pirates, treasure hunts, traps, and unexpected twists. While it’s not one of Star Wars’ biggest stories, it’s a welcome addition to the galaxy.

Originally developed as a film by John Watts (director of the MCU Spider-Man trilogy), Skeleton Crew follows four kids who stumble upon an abandoned spaceship and, by accident, launch themselves off their hidden planet. Their homeworld is associated with a legend of unimaginable treasure. Their journey takes a turn when they’re captured by a pirate, played by Jude Law, who, seeing an opportunity for himself, chooses to help them find their way home.

The series doesn’t just aim to capture the spirit of The Goonies, but also other early ’80s Amblin films. From the very first episode, as the kids race around on hover bikes and navigate school life, the E.T.-inspired influences are worn on its sleeve. That sense of wonder is further enhanced by the score, composed by Mick Giacchino, son of Michael Giacchino, whose music is often compared to the legendary John Williams.

At a time when movies and TV shows rarely focus on kids as the main characters, Skeleton Crew is a refreshing throwback. It captures the spirit of classic adventure films—reminiscent of Spy Kids—where children take charge of their own destinies rather than being passive observers. The dynamic between the two boys is a highlight in the first few episodes, though it fades slightly as the story progresses. Fern, the young girl, can come off as slightly annoying, but the series avoids treating its young heroes as naive, often showing them outsmarting adults in creative and believable ways.

Speaking of adults, Jude Law is solid as Jod Na Nawood. He has fun with the role of an unpredictable pirate, and while I didn’t fully buy his motivations at all times, credit to the series for creating morally gray characters. There’s no real standout in the supporting cast, but they all fit well into the Star Wars universe. The real scene-stealer, aside from the kids, is SM-33, a droid voiced by Nick Frost, who delivers some of the series’ best humor. If there’s one thing Disney Star Wars consistently excels at, it’s crafting memorable droids, and this one is no exception.

The series boasts an impressive lineup of directors. Star Wars veteran Bryce Dallas Howard is this time assigned the weaker (and more filler) episode, while some recent notable filmmakers make their franchise debut, including The Daniels (Everything Everywhere All at Once), David Lowery (The Green Knight), and Lee Isaac Chung (Minari). The show maintains a consistent level of quality, but don’t expect the kind of bold creative voice that made Andor stand out. Its biggest strength is how well it balances a real sense of danger while still feeling like a proper adventure show for children—something the score certainly helps reinforce.

A well-crafted adventure is always enjoyable, especially when supported by confident direction, a strong score, impressive visual effects, and a compelling cast. Skeleton Crew manages to deliver all of these with ease. The pirate-focused elements, particularly the more self-contained Episode 5, are the series’ most enjoyable moments. The last half of the final episode feels a bit rushed—perhaps to avoid feeling too conclusive and instead leave room for more stories. It arguably could have worked better as a movie, but it stands above recent Star Wars spin-offs like The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Ahsoka. Neel was my favorite, and I definitely want to add him to my Star Wars action figure collection.